OO Gauge GWR Toplight Coach Update

Dapol has received a full set of GWR Toplight coaches and is delighted to be able to share images of these with you

Prototype

The first order for these coaches was placed in 1915 but due to the First World War they were not built until 1920. The second batch was completed in 1921. Six sets of coaches were produced with a set comprising six coaches. The coaches were close coupled and constructed with a steel body rather than the traditional wooden paneling. Due to the restrictive loading gauge of the London underground tunnels the carriages are 7 inches lower than other contemporary carriages of the time. This enabled them to travel directly to Aldgate and Liverpool Street, on the Metropolitan Underground system.  

The coaches were originally used for commuter traffic from the likes of Reading and Windsor into the City of London. At the start of World War 2 this service was curtailed. However, after the Second World War and into BR days the coaches could be found on services much further afield.  

The coaches started to be removed from revenue earning service  in December 1956 and all had been removed by December 1957. There was only one significant change made to the design during the lifetime of the coaches which was the removal of one roof ventilator from each compartment.  

In 1958 two brake third coaches and one all third coach  were converted into workmen's coaches for the miners service between Glyncorrwg and North Rhondda Halt, this was a former branch line of the South Wales Mineral Railway. The main changes were the addition of an extra window in the end of the guards luggage area and a fitting of a gong to the same end of the coach.  This makes coaches 3755,  3756 and 3910 the last three coaches in service. 3755 is fully preserved at Didcot Railway Centre with 3756 being partially restored.   

Specification

Dapol has produced an all third, a composite and a third brake coach which will be the perfect companion to the Dapol 61xx Prairie. 

General Specification

• Highly accurate injection moulded body with bolection window mouldings and frosted Toplight windows. 
• Separate metal door and commode handles 
• Wire end hand rails and separately applied end communication details 
• Correct number of roof ventilators depending on the prototypical period being modelled 
• Highly detailed chassis with vacuum tanks, battery boxes and brake linkages all to a high degree of fidelity 
• 9ft bogie bolster with diecast side frames and split axles for electrical pick up 
•  Highly detailed interior with period specific decorations being applied    

Technical Specification

As well as the impressive selection of aesthetic details the coaches have an impressive technical specification

• Kinematic couplings with NEM pockets including special coupling bar to give close coupling 
• Coaches are capable of negotiating R2 radius curves 
• Sprung metal buffersInternal lighting and directional tail lamp
• Can be optionally DCC fitted with a six pin decoder such as the Dapol Imperium Five.Heavy Diecast chassis   

Proposed Liveries

GWR Lined Crimson

4P -020-001 4P-020-002      Third Brake Coaches 3747 & 3748 (Set 1)

4P -020-011 4P-020-012      All Third Coaches 3901 & 3902 (Set 1)

4P -020-021 4P-020-022      Composite Coaches 7901 & 7902 (Set 1)

Twin City Lined Chocolate & Cream

4P -020-201 4P-020-202      Third Brake Coaches 3751 & 3752 (Set 3)

4P -020-211 4P-020-212      All Third Coaches 3905 & 3906 (Set 3)

4P -020-221 4P-020-222      Composite Coaches 7905 & 7906 (Set 3)

BR Maroon

4P -020-501 4P-020-502      Third Brake Coaches 3757 & 3758 (Set 6)

4P -020-511 4P-025212      All Second Coaches 3911 & 3912 (Set 6)

4P -020521 4P-020522      Composite Coaches 7911 & 7911 (Set 6)

The detail continues as you work your way down the body sides of the coaches. The commode handles are made from individually formed pieces of wire that are fitted to the model. The door handles are made from etched brass and the prototypical “T” shape can be clearly seen in the photograph below. The windows either side of the door have bolection beadings moulded into the body sides. 

The Roof unclips easily to give access to the highly detailed interior. First Class compartments can be seen in the image below. The seating in Third Class compartments did not have armrests. This allowed for more passengers to be accommodated in each compartment.  

You can also see a small plug sticking up through one of the luggage racks, this is to provide electrical pick up to the optional lighting PCB (not currently fitted). 

The under frame of the diecast chassis is not left wanting for detail either with braking apparatus, including the vacuum tanks, battery boxes and more on show.  

Recommended Retail Price

Project Update

Due to the number of coaches being produced we elected to split the production process into two. The first three sets (Set numbers one, three & six) will be shipped in about two weeks time and we expect to see these models in shops towards the middle of November. we are currently waiting for a confirmed date for the second half of the production run.

Pre-Order at your preferred Dapol stockist today